Nigeria: Information on escapees from detention following arrests in Zaria in May 1992 and whether they are still wanted by the authorities
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 November 1993 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | NGA15776.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Nigeria: Information on escapees from detention following arrests in Zaria in May 1992 and whether they are still wanted by the authorities, 1 November 1993, NGA15776.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6abcc1e.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
According to West Africa, as a result of two days of ethnic and/or religious riots, a dusk-to-dawn curfew was imposed on Kaduna State on 19 May 1992 (25-31 May 1992, 887). Although the fighting started as an ethnic clash in the town of Ungwan-Rohongo it reportedly spread to the state capital of Kaduna City (ibid.). The federal government's commission of enquiry to investigate the disturbances was directed at the whole of Kaduna State (West Africa 1-7 June 1992, 926).
The 1-7 June 1992 issue of West Africa states that 247 people were arrested in the course of the disturbances (926). Although Zaria is in Kaduna State and (it is possible/likely) that the ethnic/religious disturbances could have spread also to Zaria, none of the sources consulted mentioned Zaria specifically as one of the towns in Kaduna State where disturbances took place.
Nonetheless, for information concerning participants in the 1992 riots in Kano and Kaduna, and whether the authorities are still searching for suspects, please refer to Responses to Information Requests NGA15774.E and NGA15775.E, both dated 16 November 1993, and NGA15525.E and NGA15529.E, both dated 26 October 1993. These documents are available at your Regional Documentation Centre. While these responses may not directly answer the question, they address the issue of participants in ethnic/religious riots and the importance accorded them by the Nigerian authorities. According to a professor of African politics at the University of Texas in Houston, who is cited in these responses, the participants in the riots were not trying to overthrow the federal government. Had this been the case, the government may, in the political climate under Ibrahim Babangida, have considered it important to continue tracking down participants.
This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. The response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
West Africa [London]. 1-7 June 1992. "Dateline Nigeria: Riot Probe."
. 25-31 May 1992. "Dateline Nigeria: Sectarian Violence."
Attachments
West Africa [London]. 1-7 June 1992. "Dateline Nigeria: Riot Probe," p. 926.
. 25-31 May 1992. "Dateline Nigeria: Sectarian Violence," p. 887.